Improvement in locking valves



PQOONNOLLYT Looking-Valve.

UNI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK toXXOLliY, ()l BROOKLYN, Nl llV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKING -VALVES.

Specification lbrining part of [.(llt'l'S Ialcut Xo. 206,228, dated July 23, W72; application tiled .\lay 2i, 1 7

T all whom it may concern:

.lle it known that I, IA'ruicit UUXXOLLY, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Locking or Coir trolling Stop-Cocks or Yalvcs, of which the following is specification:

My invention is intended more particularly t'or loeki n g the valves which control the waterprotect the upper end'of the shaft leading to the stop-cock. The cover may, when closed, be flush with the surface of the sidewalk, and beneithcrin the way nor unsightly. The cover may be easily lifted; but within the box I provide for applying a padlock, which may he as elaborate as desired.

So long as the water-rents are properly paid and the party in the house is entitled to the use of the water there is no obstruction to his controlling the cock at his pleasure; but when, for any reason, the department chooses to shut off the water my invention provides for doing so.

I provide a peculiarly-formed cap, which encircles and completely covers the head of the valve-rod. This cap matches on a staple or eye, in which latter a padlock may be engaged.

The accompan yin g drawin represent what I consider the bestmcans of carrying out the invention, and form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view with the cap applied and with the lock in place. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper end of the pipe E and the cap for closing it, and Fig. it is a plan view of the same, partly in section.

Similar letters ot'ret'erence indicate like parts in all the figures.

The valve and the immediately adjacent parts may be exactly as described in my patent of April, 1878, above referred to.

I) is a wrought-iron pipe, leading up therefrom to the surface, and 1* is a east-iron box, provided with a cover, F, turning on an axis, f, as will be readily understood.

D is the rod, connected with a valve, and extending up and down through the tube or pipe 16. It may be square the whole distance, if desired. Its upper end especially should be square, and it is desirable thatit should be case-hardened. It is guided atitsuppcrend by a screw-cap, E, which loosely embraces the rod D, and is screwed upon the pipe I), leaving a sufticicntend of the red I) projecting above to allow it to be operated by anysuitable wrench.

II is a stoutcyc, riveted or otherwise securely fixed in the bottom of the box F.

So long as the householder is allowed to control the water no other parts are necessary.

\Vhen the department chooses to shut off the water, the oflicer detailed for the purpose raises the cover of the box I and, applying his wrench to the projecting end of the rod 1), gives it a quarter-turn. This shuts otf the water, as will be understood, by operating the valve below. My provision for locking now becomes available. The otficer carries with him a supply of additional parts, which I will denominate as caps, and suitable padloeks, which will be understood. I will designate thecap by the single M, using additional marks M, &c., to designate specla parts there of. The caps may be of malleable cast iron. The part M has a cylindrical cavity suiticiently capacious to match easily over theeappiece E. A similar extension, M on the top of this has a s'ufiicient cavity to receiye the projecting end of the rod D. A lateral mm,

M, is formed with a long slot adapted-t0 titeasily over the eye II. A notch in the top off the arm M accommodates the bow b ot'a padlock, I. \Vhen these parts are in )lace and the patilock is securely locked, nothing short of violence can allowthe householder to obtain coutrol of the water.

It will be understood that my red I) iii-aycarr a stout collar turning within the cap 1 1', and provided with a stop playing 111 a suitable recess filed or otherwise produced in the top .of the tube E, as set forth in my patent of April, 1878, above referred to. I prefer to so construct; it. It will also he understood that, by making the box F a little larger and providing an additional pipe and rod, a connection for a str.ee"-washer may be provided in the same box. It is not necessary in such cases to provivlt also means for locking the streetwvasher, because one locking means may by a proper construction and arrangement of the parts below be made to control the supply of water to both the house and the streetwasher.

The padlocks may be provided with elaborate tumblers and analogous devices, as in bank-locks, if preferred.

The evils which this invention is intended to obviate are serious. It is essential to the business management of the water that the \vater-department shall control. the supply to each. house imlepcndently. As ordinarily constructed, this is a work of such magnitude that the efi'ective shutting ott' ot' the water from a house involves serious labor and expense to the department, and the re-establishing ot' the connections will more serious to the householder. The expense is liable to fall on the wrong parties. When a landlord or tenant neglects to pay the watcr-taxes or extra taxes, the water-department, as heretofore operated, shuts ott' his water by elaborate digging and shutting ott' or disconnecting the supply at the main. A derelict tenant leaving the house in that condition,the landlord or the next tenant must pay the department for digging again and re-establishing the connections, and, further, must pay the bill for the previous digging. My invention saves all this.

In Figs. 3 and 4, Gr is a pcculiarly-formcd collar strongly fixed on the rod 1'). It is formed with a stop,]", which, as the rod l) is turned, plays to the right and left in a recess formed in the upper end of the tube E. The projection f thus serves as a stop to prevent the rod 1) from ever being turned more thanthe proper amount in either direction.

' The cap 15 fits loosely around the rod and collar G, and engages with screw-threads on the exterior of the pipe E, as shown, and forms a very desirable finish for the top, leaving always snflicient of the rod 1) projecting to allow it to be seized and operated.

Modifications may be made by any good mechanic. The top of the rod D may be fivesided or of other peculiar form, to prevent its being operated by any but a peculiar wrench possessed by the department. The cover of the box F may be held down by a secret catch or other means to avoid interference of boys oridle persons. The whole may be under or adjacent to a mounting-block or a hitchingpost or other fixture. The cap M may be made larger, and may contain the works of the lock in itself, so as to avoid the necessity for an additional padlock.

Some portion of the advantages of the invention may be secured in some cases while dispensing with the cover F of the box, or with the entire box F, so long as there is an efiicient eye or equivalent engaging means for holding and preventing the rotation of the cap M.

I claim as my invcntion- 1. In combination with the rod 1), connecting with the valve controlling the water-sup ply, a cap, M, applied and removed at will, with loekin g means 1 for securing it, adapted to serve as and for the purposes herein specitied.

2. In combination with the box 1*, having a cover, I and valve-rod l), the eye II, cap M, and separate padlock 1 adapted for joint operation, as and for the purposes herein specified.

lL'The combination, \vitha stopqcock rodprotecting pipe, E, of a box, F, for protecting the "alvc-operatin g mechanism, secured to the upper end of such pipe 1*] by means of a cap, ]1, adapted to allow of the passage of the rod 1) therethrough, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, with the rod 1), pipe .ll, box F, and cap E, of the locking-cap M, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing witllcsscs.

- PA'IPItK (jONNOLLY.

Witnesses:

Enrrit Buoon'ns, (mas. t. S'rn'rsox. 

